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May 4, 2006 Hortiscope
Q: I have four very large blue spruce trees that take up a lot of my backyard. The trees were planted as a windbreak before my block was populated with houses. I am worried that the trees will start to die because they will run out of room. Will I eventually have to pay to have these trees removed? Can the trees be pruned or will they die if I do that? (Hawley, Minn.)
Q: I received a peace lily for my father’s funeral in February. Last month it seemed to be too large for the pot it came in. I transplanted it to a larger pot and added potting soil. I never have had a house plant before because I just don't have a green thumb. The plant has produced two flowers, but the leaves are turning brown. Should I trim the leaves and cut off the flowers? Please help, this flower really means a lot to me and I'm afraid it may be dying. (e-mail reference)
Q: My wife and I have a ficus tree in the dining room that seems to be doing well and is at the size we want. My wife says we will need to repot it to a bigger pot because she does that with other plants each year. Otherwise, she says the plants will develop a rootball. We don't want a bigger ficus tree and there are no roots climbing out of the pot. It was repotted a year ago after we acquired the plant from our daughter. If we repot to a larger container, won't that just stimulate or provide more room for growth? Can we leave it in the same container and enjoy the size tree we like? (e-mail reference)
Q: We moved to a home that has rhubarb in the garden area. I noticed that some of the leaves look different. We have determined that horseradish is growing near and in the rhubarb. Although I like horseradish, I don't want it growing in my rhubarb patch or yard. How do I move or eliminate it without ruining the rhubarb? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have a potted gerbera daisy plant that seems to be thriving, but some of the leaves have mold on them even though they're still green. I keep it inside, water it and make sure it has enough sunlight. What should I do about the moldy leaves? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have a Christmas cactus that is doing great. I would like to clip off some leaves and start a new plant. Should I put the new clippings in water (and for how long) or plant the clippings in soil? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have two spider plants in different pots that I've had for about a year, but they don't seem to be growing much and have not had babies. Should I replant them in bigger pots and use new soil? (e-mail reference)
Q: We just bought a weeping willow tree. We have planted it in the front corner of our yard where water tends to build up when it rains. My husband's grandmother says planting it there will cause 20 years of weeping for the person who planted it and the roots will grow everywhere. Our septic tank is in the backyard, but the lines are parallel to the tree and about 30 yards away. We also have an above-ground pool behind the house. Is the tree OK where we have it or do we need to move or get rid of it? (e-mail reference)
Q: A rabbit has sampled my boulevard tree above the snowline, but not all the way around the trunk. It appears the tree may be splitting where the rabbit removed the bark. Anything I can put on the tree where the bark is missing to protect the tree and keep it alive? (e-mail reference)
Q: I planted some beautiful tulip bulbs at the recommended depth last fall. To my dismay, the bulbs were dug up and eaten. Could it be squirrels that dug up the bulbs? How did they know there were fresh bulbs in the ground? Can squirrels smell new bulbs or dirt? Actually, I don't really care, but I want to know how I can prevent squirrels from eating my bulbs! (e-mail reference)
Q: I have an individual interested in utilizing tree tubes to enhance growth and exclude rabbits and deer. I know that the tubes do enhance growth, but what is the impact on the roots? Are the roots able to sustain the added growth? Do you know a source for tubes? (e-mail reference)
Q: I just purchased a house. The previous owners planted creeping juniper on the west and east side of the house. I hate the looks of it and would love to get rid of it, but I have no idea how to kill it. If you have any suggestions on how to get rid of creeping juniper, I would very much appreciate it. I’m assuming it was planted as a ground cover. I’m not even sure if creeping juniper is the correct name for what I’ve got, but it definitely smells and looks like creeping juniper. My dad suggested using Roundup, but there are small bushes in the same areas that I don’t want to kill. (Bismarck, N.D.)
Q: What variety of blue spruce stays blue after it has fully matured? I have noticed that many blue spruce trees seem to take on an almost totally green color as they get older. Can you give me any information on this subject? Also, where can the trees be purchased? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have received a couple of raspberry, blueberry, blackberry and grape plants. According to the information I got, raspberries and blueberries can be grown in large pots. Is this a good idea or would it be better to grow the plants in a garden setting? Also, what is the best way to grow blackberries and grapes? We have never tried growing a garden in the past. The grapes are Niagra, the blueberries are Jersey, the raspberries are Red Latham and the blackberries are Ebony King. I know we need to get them planted as soon as possible, but how do we do it? I would appreciate any help you can give me. Also, we have purchased a trellis for the grapevines, but we don't know if that is the best way to do this. (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Q: I live on a farm north of Dickinson. We have cactus in our yard that I don’t want my two small children to fall in. Can you tell me how to get rid of it? The plants are in small bunches almost even with the grass (weeds), so the plants are hard to see. If there were only a few, I would take them out by hand, but they are scattered over a large area. Can you please give me some suggestions? Thank you. (e-mail reference)
Q: I have a lilac bush. It has bloomed every year, with the number of flowers increasing each year. The leaves start coming out around this time, but this year there are no leaves appearing. The limbs are flexible and do not snap off when bent. Could it be dormant or is it dead? (e-mail reference)
### Source: Ron
Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
